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39 <br /> Identify any activities this board/commission expects to carry out in 2024 as they relate <br /> to established BOCC goals and priorities. If applicable, is there a fiscal impact (i.e., <br /> funding, staff time, other resources) associated with these proposed activities (please <br /> list). <br /> The Board of Social Services will continue to oversee operations of the Department of <br /> Social Services as staff carry out programs of human services. (Goal 1, Priority 4) The <br /> majority of the budget for Social Services relates to this goal. <br /> What are the concerns or emerging issues your board has identified for the upcoming <br /> year that it plans to address, or wishes to bring to the Commissioners' attention? <br /> 1. Child Welfare Placement Options and Support for Out of Home Placements <br /> Statewide there continue to be significant problems finding appropriate placements for <br /> children in DSS custody resulting in children with no place to go. Staff have worked with <br /> the County on an emergency strategy for immediate placement needs and continue to <br /> work on other options to provide stability to the system and reduce the burden on staff. <br /> Staff continue to work on strategies to enhance support for kinship placements and <br /> increase family time. <br /> The number of licensed foster homes in Orange County dropped from 83 in December <br /> of 2019 to 53 in January of 2024. One of the efforts for 2024 will focus on foster home <br /> recruitment to try to get closer to pre-pandemic levels. This will include outreach but <br /> also additional support for prospective foster families and interventions for hard-to-place <br /> children. <br /> 2. Staffing Recruitment and Retention <br /> DSS has worked with HR and the County Manager to move staff to a step-plan in a <br /> retention effort to provide competitive salary growth with surrounding counties and <br /> reward years of experience. <br /> DSS continues to have a high number of vacancies and struggles with hiring qualified, <br /> experienced staff. While progress has been made, as of January 12, 2024, the agency <br /> had 26 vacancies. During 2024 staff will continue working on hiring strategies to recruit <br /> and train talented staff. <br /> 3. Medicaid Expansion <br /> Staff began taking applications for the new, expanded Medicaid program on December <br /> 1, 2023. Since then, more than 2,200 Orange County residents have begun receiving <br /> the new Medicaid coverage. There are an estimated 4,000+ additional Orange County <br /> residents eligible for coverage under the new program. During 2024 DSS will be <br />